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Andy Goode: The Sale PR machine needs to have a long hard look at itself
OPINION: It’s the right thing for the integrity of the league to attempt to get the Sale versus Worcester game played, but the Sharks’ statements may have forced Premiership Rugby’s hand.
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I don’t think any of the directors of rugby or players of Wasps, Bath or Bristol want to end up in the play-offs by default so if the game in Manchester can go ahead on Wednesday, that is the best solution if everyone concerned is happy for it to take place.
However, the Sale PR machine needs to have a long hard look at itself after first issuing a statement claiming the crucial Premiership game was to “go ahead as planned” and then following that up with another which came across to me as blaming the postponement on Worcester.
It’s borne out of a desperation to make the top four. They have worked so hard and invested a lot to do that so you can understand it in a way but whether it comes right from the top and Steve Diamond himself or from the media team, the statements weren’t a good look at all.
It should go without saying that the safety of the players is what comes first here and the Warriors are right to be concerned about the welfare of their employees when there has been a reported 16 positive cases in the opposition ranks.
"Diamond was in his element on a Thursday media Zoom call, never in the slightest imagining the Sale medical emergency that would soon unfold"
– @heagneyl on the last 48 hours at the Premiership club that nearly had its playoff hopes snuffed by Covid ??? https://t.co/ITSnOT3Gue
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 3, 2020
There should be no blame or responsibility whatsoever attached to them and many people will say that rules are rules and that the game should have been called off with Worcester being awarded the full five points. That is what has happened in the case of Gloucester versus Northampton, with the home side being handed a 20-0 victory, so you can understand why some people might wonder at first glance why it’s one rule for one and a different rule for another.
In reality, though, Saints were offered the chance to postpone their game until Wednesday as well but they declined to do so because they are in the midst of a front row injury crisis and some, if not all, of the remaining fit front rowers will be self-isolating so they would be unable to field a team.
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Sale, on the other hand, have claimed that they would have been able to field a team today. It’s fair to question how that can be the case when they have reportedly had 16 positive tests and operate with one of the smallest squads in the league, but that is what they said.
As well as it not being in the best interests of the league in terms of its integrity, there would perhaps have been the possibility of a legal challenge from Sale if they had been denied the chance to fulfil the fixture and Worcester had been awarded five points.
It’s still by no means a given that the game will go ahead on Wednesday with a number of hurdles to overcome on Monday and Tuesday when it comes to testing and other protocols.
Premiership Rugby deserves credit for doing everything they can to get the game on, though, and for almost getting through all of the fixtures left in the 2019/20 season when the Top 14 was called off early and the PRO14 could only manage back-to-back derby games when its regular season returned.
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Let’s hope all the players who have tested positive are doing okay and there is a positive resolution to it all, whether that be Sale qualifying for the Premiership play-offs or not. When all is said and done, though, the Sharks should acknowledge their PR failings.
Confirmation at last as to how bad the outbreak is https://t.co/HVgzEeYnxF
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 3, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments